Table and floor lamp knob switch



April 6, 1954 H. T. THORNTON ET AL 2,674,689

TABLE AND FLOOR LAMP KNOB SWITCH Filed Aug. 31, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTD R N EYS April 6, 1954 H. T. THORNTON ETAL 2, 74,689

TABLE AND FLOOR LAMP KNOB SWITCH Filed Aug. 51 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 6, 1 954 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE TABLE AND FLOOR LAlVIP KNOB SWITCH Howard T. Thornton and Carl A. s'joquist. Cranston, R. I.

Application August 31, 1951, Serial No. 244,593

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to table and floor lamps of the type having a plurality of light bulbs in a shade or the like and of the type wherein the shade is suspended from the upper end of a pedestal, and in particular this invention includes a lamp of this type having switch elements incorporated in a housing at the upper end of the pedestal and from which the shade is suspended and wherein the switch elements are actuated by a knob positioned on the end of the pedestal and on the outside of the shade.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved switch for table and floor lamps wherein the switch is positioned so that it is not necessary to reach in under a shade to light or extinguish lamps positioned below the shade.

In the conventional type of table and floor lamp switches are provided in light sockets positioned around the upper end of a pedestal and even though combination switches are used in some lamps it is necessary to reach in under the shade in order to operate the switch. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a switch positioned in a lamp mounting housing at the end of a pedestal and from which a lamp shade is suspended, in which the switch is provided with an actuating knob that replaces the conventional ornament positioned on the outside of the lamp shade and on the upper end of the pedestal so that the switch may be actuated without reaching in under the lamp shade.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a switch for table and floor lamps whereby the switch is operated on the outside of a shade surrounding a plurality of lamp bulbs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination switch for table and floor lamps having depending shades which is operated by a knob extended above the shade and in which the electric cord may extend through the pedestal or through an opening in the switch housing positioned in the lamp shade and on the upper end of the pedestal.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved table or floor lamp having a combination switch operated by a knob extended beyond a shade of the lamp, which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and. advantages in view the invention embodies a lamp having a switch housing positioned on the upper end of a pedestal with a shade suspended from the housing and having contact points connected in circuits to the lamp and positioned in the 2 housing and a rotor with a segment thereon for completing circuits to the lamp as the rotor is rotated by a knob extended from the upper end of the pedestal and positioned above the lamp shade suspended on the housing.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view showing a table lamp in which the supply cord extends through a pedestal thereof and in which parts are broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a detail looking upwardly toward the under surface of the switch housing mounted on the upper end of the pedestal and showing a plurality of lamp sockets extended therefrom.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the knob on the upper end of the switch housing and showing the shade with parts thereof broken away.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the switch housing illustrating a modification wherein the electric supply wires extend through an opening in one side of the switch housing.

Figure 5 is a detail showing a section through part of the switch housing and illustrating the method of mounting the lamp socket in the housing.

Figure 6 is a plan view showing the opening in the shell of the light socket.

Figure 7 is a vertical section through a portion of the switch housing of the design shown in Figure 1 wherein the supply wires extend through the pedestal.

Figure 8 is a detail showing a sectional plan through the wire holding element in the lower part of the switch housing.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the switch housing shown in Figure 4 with the cover plate omitted.

Figure 10 is a similar view showing the contact segments positioned above the wire holding ring shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a view showing a wiring diagram with the cam segment positioned to complete circuits to all of the lights of the lamp.

Figure 12 is a similar view showing a wiring diagram with the parts positioned whereby a circuit is completed to only one light of the lamp.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved lamp switch of this invention includes a housing [0 positioned on the upper end of a tubular section II of a pedestal l2, a knob l3 for turning the stem l4 in the housing ill and on which segments l5 are provided which engage contact arms [6 mounted on the base I! of the housing.

In this design the pedestal is provided with an inner tube 18 and the base I! of the housing In is journaled on a collar l9 threaded on the upper end of the tube 3. The lamps are supplied with current through wires 20 and 2| which extend upwardly through the tube 18 and with one of the wires, such as the wire 29 connected to a lower ring 22, and the other wire 2i connected to the segment I a circuit may be completed through lights 23 extended from sockets 24 in the outer surface of the housing.

The housing may be provided with a contact, such as the contact 16 for each lamp and the cam I5 is positioned to engage one, two, or all Of the contacts. The contacts l6 are secured to the base ll of the housing by screws 25, as shown in Figure '7 and a member 28a of the base ll, positioned below the stem [4 is provided with laterally disposed openings 26 and 21 through which the wires 29 and 2! extend.

The housing I0 is provided with a cover plate 28 and the knob 13 is secured in position with arcuate plates 29 and 39 that extend into an annular recess 3la at the base of the knob, as shown in Figure 3. The plates 29 and 39 are secured to the cover 28 by screws 3| and 32 and the cover plate may be secured to the base or wall of the housing by screws 33.

In this design the lamp is provided with a shade 34 that is secured to a flange extended around the cover plate 28 by screws 33.

The inner tube [8 is secured to the upper end of a tube 36 by a coupling 3?, the coupling being threaded on the upper end of the tube 39 and also threaded on the lower end of the tube iii. A nut 38 is provided on the lower end of the tube 38 by which the tube is secured in the pedestal of the lamp.

The light cord including the wires 2t and 21 extends through a laterally disposed opening 39 in the base of the pedestal and a plug 49 is provided on the outer end of the cord.

In the design illustrated in Figures 4, 9 and the lamp is provided with a switch housing 4| having a base 42, a cover plate 43 and a knob 44. In this design an electric cord including wires 45 and 48 extends through an opening 47 in one side of the housing and the wire 45 is connected to a terminal 4'3 of a ring 49 whereas the other wire 45 is connected by bolts 59, 5| and 52 to shells 53 of the light sockets 54.

As shown in Figure 9 the wire 45 is connected to the terminal 43 of a ring 49 and with the parts positioned as shown in Figure 4 the ring 55a on which cams 55 and 56 are positioned is mounted in a recess 51 on the lower part of a stem 58 that extends from the knob 44 and with the ring 49 in engagement with the ring 5511 the circuit is established from the wire 46 through the rings 49 and 55a to contacts 99, 59 and 60 that extend upwardly from the base 42 on which the contacts are mounted by screws 6!, t2 and 63 which extend through flanges 94, S5 and 66, respectively on the lower ends of the contacts.

As shown in Figure 9 the contact 58 is connected by a wire 61 to a terminal 69 from which a brush 69 extends and, as shown in Figure 4 the brush 69 engages a center terminal ":9 of the base H of a light bulb 12. The contact 59 is connected to the terminal 13 by a wire '14 and a brush 15 extended from the terminal 13 is also positioned to contact the center terminal of the base of a light bulb. The contact 60 is connected by a wire 16 to a terminal 11 by a brush 18 and the brush I8 is positioned to engage the center terminal of the base of a light bulb.

It will be understood that any suitable number of light bulbs, sockets, therefor, and contacts may be provided, in the switch housing.

In this design the switch housing is positioned on the upper end of a tube 19, similar to the tube I I and an inner tube on which a collar 8! is threaded is positioned in the tube 19 to provide mounting means for the switch housing.

The knob 44 is also provided with an annular recess 82 similar to the recess 3i on the knob l3 and arcuate plates 83 and 84 which are secured to the cover plate 49 by screws 85 extend into the recess 82 to hold the knob 44 in position with an extension 86 on the lower end extended into an opening 81 in the center of the base of the housing.

The housing of this design is also provided with an opening 89 through which wires may be placed should it be desired to bring supply wires through the center of the pedestal.

It will be understood that the lamp structure is the same in both designs, the only difference being in the fact that the wires extend through the pedestal and through an opening 39 in one side of the base in one design and through an opening 4! in the switch housing in the other design.

The earns and 563, which are carried by the stem of the knob 44 are rotated by the knob to make or break the circuit, and in the diagram illustrated in Figure 12 one of the earns 55 is shown in engagement with the contact 53 whereby the circuit to one light as indicated by the numeral 99 is completed and with continued movement of the cam or segment 55 until the segment engages the contact 59 the circuit to a light 9| would be completed and with still further movement of the segment by the knob the segment would engage the contact 60 whereby circuits to the three lights 90, 9| and 92 would be completed. The terminals of the lamps are connected to a source of current supply by a wire 93 at one side and a wire 94, which is connected to the terminal 48 completes the other side of the circuit through the ring 49, segments 59 and contacts 58, 59 and 69.

The circuits to the lights are completed, therefore, by turning the knobs [3 or 44 and a circuit may be completed to one light as show in Figure 12 or to all three lights as shown in Fi ure 11, or to any suitable number of lights as may be desired.

It will be understood that other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a lamp, a switch housing provided with an open top and an opening in one side thereof and having a base, a cover plate mounted on said switch housing to close the open top thereof, a knob positioned above said plate and including a stem portion, an electric cord including wires extending through said opening, a first vertically disposed tube extending downwardly from said housing, a second tube arranged within said first tube, a collar threadedly engaging said second tube and engaging said base, said knob being provided with an annular recess, an annular clamp seated in said recess and connected to the upper surface of said cover plate, an extension projecting downwardly from said knob, there being an opening arranged centrally in said base for rotatably receiving said extension, a plurality of light sockets extending from said base, a first ring connected to said base and having a terminal electrically connected to one of said wires, secur- 5 ing elements connecting said other wire to said light sockets, a second ring slidably connected to the first ring and to the stem portion of said knob and provided with opposed cams for selectively completing the circuit to said sockets upon 10 manual rotation of said knob.

6 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Caldwell Sept. 1, 1908 Dunn Feb. 27, 1923 Hertzberg May 17, 1938 Renholdt Aug. 2, 1938 

